Cost of Investor Visa in Bahrain: Government Fees, LMRA Charges & Total Investment (2026)

The total cost of a Bahrain Investor Visa is BHD 755 for 1-year or BHD 953 for 2-year. This includes the government visa fee, admin fee, application fee, fingerprints with executive service, medical examination, CPR issuance, and LMRA registration. The 2-year option offers 37% per-year savings (BHD 476.50/year vs BHD 755/year).

Complete Cost Breakdown (2026)

Your investor visa investment covers seven distinct expense categories. Each serves a specific purpose in Bahrain’s immigration system.

What Each Fee Component Covers

Investor Visa Fee (BHD 195 / BHD 390)

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) charges this base visa issuance fee. It covers work permit processing and residency authorization. The 2-year fee is exactly double the 1-year rate.

Admin Fee (BHD 5)

A flat admin fee applies to all LMRA portal submissions. This covers document processing and system maintenance. The fee is identical for both visa durations.

Application Fee (BHD 77 / BHD 80)

The application processing fee covers document review, security coordination, and administrative handling. The slight difference between packages reflects processing complexity for longer-term permits.

Finger Prints with Executive Service (BHD 60)

Biometric registration is mandatory for all visa holders. Executive service provides priority processing at LMRA centers, reducing wait times from hours to minutes. This expedited service is included in the package.

Medical for Investor Residency (BHD 68)

Medical fitness certification is mandatory. This covers blood tests (HIV, Hepatitis B/C, Syphilis), chest X-ray (tuberculosis screening), and general physical examination at authorized health centers.

Issuance of CPR (BHD 150)

The Central Population Registry (CPR) card is Bahrain’s national ID for residents. This fee covers card production, registration in national systems, and delivery. Your CPR is essential for opening a business bank account, telecom, and daily transactions.

LMRA Registration (BHD 200)

LMRA registration establishes your record in Bahrain’s labor market system. This one-time registration links your visa to your company’s Commercial Registration on the Sijilat portal and enables ongoing compliance tracking.

Per-Year Value Comparison

The 2-year visa delivers significantly better value when calculated on a per-year basis.

Choosing the 2-year option saves BHD 557 over two years compared to two consecutive 1-year visas (BHD 1,510 vs BHD 953). Beyond cost savings, you reduce administrative burden significantly.

Bahrain government visa fees for investors are: 1-year visa (BHD 195) and 2-year visa (BHD 390). An admin fee of BHD 5 applies to all applications. These are pure government charges paid through the LMRA EMS portal, separate from service and processing fees.

LMRA Visa Fee Structure

Government fees consist of the base visa charge plus a standard admin fee.

1-Year Investor Visa Fee (BHD 200 Total)

The 1-year option suits investors testing the Bahrain market or with shorter-term business plans. Government charges total BHD 200 (BHD 195 visa + BHD 5 admin).

2-Year Investor Visa Fee (BHD 395 Total)

The 2-year option provides best value for committed investors. Government charges total BHD 395 (BHD 390 visa + BHD 5 admin).

Fee Payment Methods

LMRA accepts multiple payment options through their secure online portal.

Online Payment via LMRA EMS Portal

All payments happen electronically through the EMS system. Log in with your eKey credentials, select your application, and proceed to payment. The system generates instant receipts for your records.

Accepted Payment Methods

Visa and MasterCard credit/debit cards work for all transactions. BenefitPay — Bahrain’s local digital wallet — is also accepted. Some banks offer cashback or points on government payments.

Medical examination for Bahrain Investor Visa costs BHD 68 when included in a complete visa package. This covers blood tests, chest X-ray, and physical examination at authorized health centers. Results are valid for 90 days from issuance date.

What’s Included in the Medical Fee

The BHD 68 medical fee covers all mandatory health screenings required by LMRA.

Blood Tests

Mandatory blood panels screen for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis. These tests protect public health and are standard across all GCC countries.

Chest X-Ray

A chest X-ray checks for active pulmonary tuberculosis. This screening is required for all residency applications in Bahrain.

General Physical Examination

A physician conducts basic physical assessment including vital signs, vision, and hearing checks.

Medical for Applicants Outside Bahrain (GAMCA)

Applicants applying from abroad must complete GAMCA-approved medical examinations in their home country before arrival.

Medical Certificate Validity

Medical certificates expire 90 days from issuance. Plan your application timeline to submit within this window. Starting medical too early creates re-examination risk and additional cost.

Dependent visa in Bahrain costs BHD 260 per family member including visa fee, admin fee, CPR fee, and visa application fee. Minimum salary requirement for family sponsorship is BHD 400/month. A family of four (spouse + 2 children) costs BHD 780 in total visa and processing fees.

Per-Person Dependent Costs

Family Sponsorship Budget Scenarios

Minimum Salary Requirement

LMRA requires sponsors to show minimum BHD 400 monthly income for family sponsorship. As an investor, this can come from salary, business dividends, or owner drawings documented through bank statements. See our expat business guide for how different nationalities manage family sponsorship alongside business operations.

With a complete visa package, there are no hidden fees — fingerprints, medical, and CPR are all included in the BHD 755/953 package price. What you see is what you pay for the investor visa itself.

What’s Already Included in the Package

The BHD 755/953 package covers everything needed for visa issuance:

• ✓ Government visa fee
• ✓ Admin fee
• ✓ Application processing
• ✓ Fingerprints with executive service
• ✓ Medical examination
• ✓ CPR issuance
• ✓ LMRA registration

Beyond the visa package itself, your total business setup budget should account for company formation costs, virtual office fees, and bank account opening requirements. See our complete costs overview for the full picture.

The cheapest legal way is through a complete package at BHD 755 (1-year) or BHD 953 (2-year). For maximum long-term value, choose the 2-year visa (37% per-year savings) and apply fresh rather than transferring from work visa (saves BHD 250 transfer fee).

Cost Optimization Strategies

1. Choose 2-Year Visa

The 2-year visa at BHD 953 costs BHD 476.50/year versus BHD 755/year for the 1-year option. Over a 10-year business timeline, this saves approximately BHD 2,785.

2. Apply Fresh (Avoid Transfer Fee)

If possible, time your business setup to coincide with a visit visa entry. This avoids the BHD 250 transfer fee that applies when converting from work visa.

Government visa fees cannot be paid in installments — full payment is required at application submission. However, some service providers may offer flexible payment arrangements for their service components. Monthly LMRA fees are automatically billed quarterly and must be paid in full each cycle.

Payment Structure

• Visa Package: Full payment required before processing begins
• Monthly LMRA: Billed quarterly (BHD 22.5 per invoice)

Payment Methods Accepted

LMRA accepts Visa, MasterCard, and BenefitPay through their online portal. Credit card payment effectively provides short-term financing if you pay off the balance during your card’s grace period. Contact us to discuss payment timing and budget planning for your specific situation.